TRIPUNITHURA: The minds of the entire audience of JTpac were captivated by the tale of Chanakya, the man behind the foundation of Mauryan empire. The play which witnessed some awesome performances from Manoj Joshi as Chanakya and a couple of other talented actors, was a grand success.
The play opens with a distressed Chanakya who is daunted by the disintegration of Magadh and its prestigious University, Taxila, and also the destabilisation of the country amidst shattered small provinces.
The play is packed with powerful dialogues, many of which have relevance in the present scenario, too. While quoting Arjuna Vishaada Yoga from Bhagavad Gita, the central character says that unlike Sree Krishna who advised Arjun, he would never wait to give Chandragupta Mourya a lengthy advice. Instead he would chop off his head if Chandragupta Mourya shows reluctance in confronting the challenges.
“I need only your strength not the weakness”, Chanakya says to Chandra Gupta Mourya. On another occasion when Rakshasaachaarya, the minister of Dhana Nand, worries about how to serve Chandragupta Mourya in the place of his earlier King, Chanakya reminds him that the Minister is serving not the King but the Kingdom and its subjects. This lines are sure to resonate with modern-day audience.
In another scene the director also exposes the unholy nexus between the bureaucrats, the lobbying class and the King, which had started in India from the fourth century onwards.
Chanakya reminds Chandragupta Maurya that Kingship is not at all a shortcut for enjoying a luxurious life and being a King is not an easy walk since it demands strenuous effort to
bring peace and prosperity to the subjects of the Kingdom.
The play was in a way unique as it was devoid of conventional emotional scenes and stage gimmicks which the theatre group
were very much keen to avoid.
All the actors, especially Manoj Joshi and Ashok Banthia, showed justice to the characters. Viewers were virtually taken to the power corridors of Magadha and also to the hidden political reservoirs of Chanakya.
Both Manoj and Ashok, as Chaknakya and Rakshaacharya gave a meritorious performance. Bhuvan Shetty’s Chandragupta Maurya and Poonam Gibson’s Sumoha were able to bring out the conflict taking place in their subconscious minds as well as their pathos and worries regarding the plight of the nation.
Sunil Shinde and Charu Joshy as Dhana Nand and Katika also did their roles excellently.
Another distinctive factor behind the success of the play was the stage craft designed by Ashfaq Maulvi supported by Varma Tailors. With diagonally designed trestles and a handful of decorated hoardings, the stage appeared like fourth century Bharath.
With limited stage properties, they created the sets that appeared like the historic corridors of Magadh and royal cabins. To add to the ambience of a royal atmosphere, Mala Bhatia beautifully designed the costumes especially that of central characters Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya and Rakshasaacharya.